美国英国用愤怒的小鸟，谷歌地图来收集用户数据

 　　美国英国用愤怒的小鸟，谷歌地图来收集用户数据

　　WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- U.S. and British spy agencies are tapping popular smartphone apps such as Angry Birds and Google Maps to collect users' personal information including location, age, sex and even sexual orientation¹, the New York Times reported Monday.

　　Citing previously² undisclosed classified documents provided by former U.S. defense³ contractor⁴ Edward Snowden, the report said the National Security Agency (NSA) and its British counterpart, Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), were working together on how to collect and store data from "leaky" smartphone apps by 2007.

　　The agencies have traded methods for grabbing location and planning data when a target uses Google Maps, and for vacuuming up address books, buddy⁵ lists, phone logs and the geographic⁶ data embedded⁷ in photos when someone sends a post to the mobile versions of Facebook, Flickr, LinkedIn, Twitter and other services, said the newspaper.

　　Although the scale and the specifics of the data haul are not clear, the agencies routinely obtain information from certain apps, particularly some of those introduced earliest to cellphones, and also have a similar capability⁸ for some newer apps, including Angry Birds, the paper added.

　　Angry Birds, created by Rovio Entertainment of Finland, has been downloaded more than a billion times. The company drew public criticism in 2012 when researchers claimed that the app was tracking users' locations and gathering⁹ other data and passing it to mobile ad companies.

　　Rovio, the maker¹⁰ of Angry Birds, told British newspaper The Guardian¹¹ that it had no knowledge of any NSA or GCHQ programs looking to extract data from its apps users.

　　"Rovio doesn't have any previous knowledge of this matter, and has not been aware of such activity in third party advertising¹² networks," said Saara Bergstrom, Rovio's VP of marketing¹³ and communications. "Nor do we have any involvement with the organizations you mentioned (NSA and GCHQ)."

　　Some personal data could be particularly sensitive, and a secret 2012 British intelligence document said spies can scrub smartphone apps that contain details like a user's "political alignment¹⁴" and sexual orientation, according to the New York Times report.

　　Both NSA and GCHQ displayed a particular interest in Google Maps, which is accurate to within a few yards or better in some locations.

　　The agencies collected so much data from the app that "you'll be able to clone Google's database" of global searches for directions, a 2007 NSA report was quoted as saying, while a 2008 GCHQ said "it effectively means that anyone using Google Maps on a smartphone is working in support of a GCHQ system."

　　White House spokesman Jay Carney said the NSA was only interested in those considered a threat to the U.S., including " terrorists, proliferators, other bad actors."

　　"To the extent that the NSA collects information, it is focused on valid¹⁵ foreign intelligence targets and not the information of ordinary Americans," Carney said.

1 orientation   

n.方向，目标；熟悉，适应，情况介绍

参考例句：

• Children need some orientation when they go to school.小孩子上学时需要适应。
• The traveller found his orientation with the aid of a good map.旅行者借助一幅好地图得知自己的方向。

2 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

3 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

4 contractor   

n.订约人，承包人，收缩肌

参考例句：

• The Tokyo contractor was asked to kick $ 6000 back as commission.那个东京的承包商被要求退还6000美元作为佣金。
• The style of house the contractor builds depends partly on the lay of the land.承包商所建房屋的式样，有几分要看地势而定。

5 buddy   

n.（美口）密友，伙伴

参考例句：

• Calm down,buddy.What's the trouble?压压气，老兄。有什么麻烦吗？
• Get out of my way,buddy!别挡道了，你这家伙！

6 geographic   

adj.地理学的，地理的

参考例句：

• The city's success owes much to its geographic position. 这座城市的成功很大程度上归功于它的地理位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Environmental problems pay no heed to these geographic lines. 环境问题并不理会这些地理界限。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

7 embedded   

a.扎牢的

参考例句：

• an operation to remove glass that was embedded in his leg 取出扎入他腿部玻璃的手术
• He has embedded his name in the minds of millions of people. 他的名字铭刻在数百万人民心中。

8 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

9 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

10 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

11 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

12 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

13 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

14 alignment   

n.队列；结盟，联合

参考例句：

• The church should have no political alignment.教会不应与政治结盟。
• Britain formed a close alignment with Egypt in the last century.英国在上个世纪与埃及结成了紧密的联盟。

15 valid   

adj.有确实根据的；有效的；正当的，合法的

参考例句：

• His claim to own the house is valid.他主张对此屋的所有权有效。
• Do you have valid reasons for your absence?你的缺席有正当理由吗？